Morning Meditation: From Cushion to Daily Life | Guided Practice & Tips

This week, we explore how to weave mindfulness through our entire day, starting with a gentle morning practice that sets our intentions and opens our hearts to daily gifts.

What We'll Share Together:

• A gentle morning practice that helps us set our day's intention
• Some thoughts about consistency (spoiler: it matters more than duration!)
• A beautiful concept called the cycle of reciprocity that might just change how you see your day
• Real, practical ways to stay connected to our practice, even when life gets busy

Our Practice Today:

• A 20-minute guided meditation (but remember, even 3 minutes counts!)
• Time to settle in and get comfortable
• Space to notice the gifts already present in your day
• A chance to set an intention that really means something to you
• Plenty of room for whatever arises

Meditation Music:

The natural soundscape comes from a recording high on the slopes of Haleakalā, Maui. Many of the bird calls belong to local and endangered species, which Nick McMahan had the opportunity to capture while studying the region's sound ecology for Quiet Parks International.

Ideas We'll Explore:

Robin Wall Kimmerer's lovely cycle of reciprocity: attention, gifts, gratitude, and reciprocity

Why morning practice can be special (but it's totally okay if you're not a morning person!)

How to name specific intentions (because "good" isn't quite enough)

Ways to notice the gifts already present in our lives

A Story That Inspired Today's Practice:

I'll share a beautiful story about a climate journalist who found her way back to joy through really seeing the plants around her. It's from "The Light Eaters" and connects so beautifully with Robin Wall Kimmerer's ideas in "Braiding Sweetgrass."

This Practice Might Be Just Right If:

You're looking for ways to carry your practice beyond the cushion

You want to start your day with intention (at whatever time feels right)

You're curious about building a practice that really fits your life

You're ready to explore what consistency might look like for you

What's Coming Next:

We'll continue exploring how to weave mindfulness through our days together, looking at moments like lunch and dinner. I'm excited to share this journey with you!